One of Sour, Two of Sweet.....

One of Sour, Two of Sweet, Three of Strong, Four of Weak....

At least that is the Mnemonic used to figure out the basics to a good cocktail.

Except....

There is a bit of poetic rhyming in the above formula but if you actually look at a lot of classic cocktails you will find the first two are switched. To wit, the classic Whiskey Sour:

1 part gomme (sugar)
2 parts Lemon
3 parts Whiskey

And presumably you would get your four of weak from the shaker. One of sweet, two of sour....

No?

Lets try the classic Daiquiri:

1 part Sweet
2 parts Lime
3 parts Strong

And again, the four of weak come from the shaker. One of sweet, two of sour...

Of course by pointing this out I am sure you are going to notice all the other drinks that have two sweets to one sour, but those drinks always seem too sweet for me.

I guess that as I become more and more of a bitter old man my cocktails are following me down that same path of bitterness.